Nipolite?

[hq]

I recently talked to elderly gentlemen who have a long history in reloading and experimenting with all kinds of propellants, loads and cartridges.

What really caught my attention is that they had stumbled across a small amount of original German Nipolite, the infamous 8x57 WW2 aircraft machine gun powder decades ago. Their experiments with .308 resulted in rather spectacular figures, up to 3100fps+ for a 180gr bullet with no overpressure signs whatsoever. They were positive that the load could've been increased from there but they ran out of powder and could never find more anywhere again.

That's not just hot, that's solidly in .300WinMag territory.

According to my very superficial research, it seems that Nipolite or equivalent has never been manufactured for civilian market. Nor have I found more reliable information than its basic components, smokeless powder aka. nitrocellulose and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN).

I'm not really interested in blowing myself up experimenting, but any pointers to percentages, mixing ratios and details would be highly interesting. On the other hand, I don't mind blowing up a spare .308 barreled action as long as I'm at least 15 yards from the bench, behind a concrete barrier and pulling the trigger with a string.

 

[TikkaShooter]

Nepolit is a plastique explosive re-purposed from a single base (nitrocellulose) gun powder which is mixed with an explosive. I wouldn't mess with processing it into gunpowder. Having it would get a person free room and board at Club Fed.

 

[hq]

I already have appropriate licenses and paperwork to possess and handle pretty much any explosive material in EU area. In addition to that, my wife has a D.Sc. in chemistry so a simple synthesis of PETN isn't exactly rocket surgery in this household. So legalities and baseline competence aren't an issue here, mixing ratios and details of components are. Like I said, I don't mind blowing up a barreled action but I don't want to do it intentionally or because of negligence.

 

[Dudedog]

Pure speculation but one would think there has to be some reason, otherwise I can't see a powder company not making a blend like it available.

Fingerless Powder Company
Our new WIZBANG powder offers close to 300fps more than competing powders! .300 WIN Mag performance out of your .308!

 

[TikkaShooter]

I didn't look to see where you are located. Then with the licenses and a D.Sc in chemistry in house, you're good to go.
In WWII, OSS used Nepolit as an explosive; modifying it from plastique into gunpowder will be very interesting.

 

[hq]

The documented V0 difference in 8x57 ammo is interesting, from 2575fps of Wehrmacht issue ammo to 2970fps (!!) of Luftwaffe issue ammo from same test barrels, for 178gr ball/tracer/AP(I). Current maximum loads with conventional nitrocellulose powders rarely exceed 2700fps with bullets of similar weight so it seems obvious that Luftwaffe was onto something. Especially because reliability requirements for aircraft ammo were (and are) exceptionally high so risking overpressure-related failures is out of the question.

Why something like this isn't offered commercially these days? I don't have a clue either. The legal status of PETN and derivatives may be quite a bit different than that of nitrocellulose in some parts of the world, and in civilian applications you can always choose a larger caliber if need be, instead of cramming a lot more oomph in a standard issue round.

These rounds seemed to be popular among snipers but their use was swiftly Verboten. Not because any of their fine-tuned Mausers reportedly blew up but recoil being so fierce that the Zeiss scopes couldn't cope with it and turned into kaleidoscopes in the middle of the action.

What I have in mind is a long(er) range, short action, lightweight hunting rifle that can put real hurt on bigger game all the way up to a moose at extended distances if need be. More or less .300WM or extra hot .30-06 performance without the weight penalty.

 

[Phlier]

I already have appropriate licenses and paperwork to possess and handle pretty much any explosive material in EU area. In addition to that, my wife has a D.Sc. in chemistry so a simple synthesis of PETN isn't exactly rocket surgery in this household

Would you ever consider adopting a 52 year old son?